Black Panther - a rich blend of world’s history and culture
![blackpanther.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://res.cloudinary.com/hpiynhbhq/image/upload/v1519139444/bp8aio9r8wfpfjftppei.jpg)
As a long time superhero - fiction fan, I was mostly up to date with upcoming related films; particularly Marvel movies. And in recent times, I have watched most of it (if not all) – the Avengers’ line-up. You can name it, and I have seen it!
Iron Man? Done!
Thor? Done!
Captain America? Done!
and so on..
But the recent film – Black Panther – have set it apart from the rest in ways that is not fiction related.
You see, Black Panther is not your ordinary, or say, traditional Marvel film where “heroes” don’t get to showcase real world heritages, traditions and cultures. Most of the past Marvel films portray fictional traditons and cultures (eg. Thor). Though Black Panther is still fiction per se (including “Wakanda”), some scenes point to rich cultural heritage and traditions.
ARCHITECTURAL SETTING
Wakanda
In the nation of Wakanda, where Black Panther reside, I particularly noticed just how some structures or buildings resemble real world structures or even historical temples.
In one instance, one of the buildings look too close to those of the Mayan Temples of South America.
![mayan.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://res.cloudinary.com/hpiynhbhq/image/upload/v1519140015/tjxxa7isiwyu2ya9xz7w.jpg)
Mayan Temple (Kulkulcan pyramid) in Yucatan, Mexico.
In some instances, I noticed that they seemed to have borrowed structural ideas from some of India’s famous temples. Like the Jagannath Temple in Puri, India.
![jaganathpuri.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://res.cloudinary.com/hpiynhbhq/image/upload/v1519139915/uulixxrcqf66ckev5kso.jpg)
Jagannath Puri temple in Puri, India.
This maybe no coincidence as I explain later on.
GLORY TO HANUMAN
![mbaku.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://res.cloudinary.com/hpiynhbhq/image/upload/v1519140533/jq2bccar3eovcla7i7xq.jpg)
M'Baku and his army from a scene in the movie
In one scene, after an intense fight between M'Baku (a leader of one tribe) and T'Challa (the would be Black Panther), M’Baku hails his God, saying “Glory to Hanuman!”
But who is Hanuman and is he a fictional character too?
![hanuman.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://res.cloudinary.com/hpiynhbhq/image/upload/v1519140807/mbbbalhedxci5jnaqqgo.jpg)
Hanuman, lifts a portion of the Himalayan Mountains
Hanuman, is depicted in the Vedas (the oldest known scriptures of the world coming from the ancient times of India) as the head of the monkeys who helped Lord Rama defeat the terrifying demon named Ravana after the latter kidnapped Lord Rama’s wife Sita, taking her away from India into his huge kingdom in Lanka (now known as Sri Lanka) around 3 million years ago. Lord Rama then ruled the earth for 11,000 years. The story is much popularly known as Ramayana.
![rama.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://res.cloudinary.com/hpiynhbhq/image/upload/v1519141209/djkt0f5713miv5q9aga6.jpg)
Rama with the army of monkeys killing the demon Ravana
Though some may claim this as a myth or even fiction, some evidence suggest that this indeed happened as the bridge that the monkeys build for them to cross to Sri Lanka still exist to this day.
![](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Adams_Bridge_aerial.jpg/675px-Adams_Bridge_aerial.jpg)
Adam's Bridge also known as Rama's Bridge as seen from the air.
MARTIAL ARTS
![Capoeira.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://res.cloudinary.com/hpiynhbhq/image/upload/v1519142197/tpuik32zswq0lrmqqjxc.jpg)
A Capoeira martial arts fight
In many scenes throughout the movie, different styles of fighting was used. Specially during one on one combat fights, we can see that there was more than one fighting style that was used.
To have a better reference as to what possible fight styles was used, we can go back to Black Panther’s first appearance in the Avengers franchise and check what styles was implemented.
In a forum discussion, it is said that during fight scenes of Black Panther in Captain America – Civil War, they used a mix of taekwondo, capoeira, wushu and extreme martial arts. Most of this fighting stances originated from South Korea and China.
Such fighting styles was evidently visible in most scenes on Black Panther’s solo movie.
A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE OF MOVIES
With the flow of the Black Panther movie, I hope that similar future films will follow its footstep – paying tribute to world’s heritages and culture with a touch of ancient historical references. In this way, the children who are the most fan of such films, may find an entertaining way to learn History and Culture of our world.
I already watched this movie , and it's a two thumbs up for the whole cast.
Yeah. Really good film. I was hesitant at first to watch it because I feel it will not be as good as the previous Avenger movies. But it was not; it was even better.
Thank you as well for resteeming. Followed you too
This movie is absolutely amazing. I watched it 3 time and still want to watch it again.
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Thank you so much!
I haven't watched this movie yet. Seeing your post made me so excited to watch it soon.
I thought it will not be as good as the previous Avengers films but I was wrong.
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Thank you so much!
Great observation for this good movie! Loved that in the movie, Black Panther had both men and women armies :)
Yeah. I was initially hesitant to watch this as I feel it was not at par with the rest of the Avengers movie franchise. But luckily, I was wrong. It was even better.
I have read so many reviews about it but you gave fresh insights on the movie.
Great job on this one man.
Thank you so much
Hello, I'm Oatmeal Joey, and Black Panther was cool and I love your photos here and the art and I love cultures and people and I'm from Oregon and was in Vietnam and that was cool.
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